Insulin receptor and insulin receptor substrate‐1 in rat retinae

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Abstract
Insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) is a major cytosolic substrate of the insulin receptor. Expression of insulin receptor and IRS-1, and the distribution of these components of the insulin-signalling pathway, were investigated in rat retinae. Insulin receptor and IRS-1 were located in retinal sections with anti-insulin receptor and anti-IRS-1 antibodies. Reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) of retinal mRNA was performed with primers specific for insulin receptor and IRS-1 gene sequences. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated distinct but closely associated staining patterns for insulin receptor and IRS-1 throughout rat retinae. The RT-PCR product from rat retinal insulin receptor mRNA corresponded to the high affinity insulin receptor isoform. The RT-PCR product for retinal IRS-1 mRNA agreed with that predicted from the gene sequence. The expression of IRS-1 and insulin receptors indicates a signalling mechanism by which insulin can influence retinal metabolism or function.